Apparatus for extracting and feeding tubes to a machine for filling the tubes with a suitable material

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for extracting empty collapsible carton tubes from a transport receptacle in which a transfer assembly is so arranged as to be raised and lowered in operative relation to the receptacle while extractor fingers carried by the assembly are effectively inserted into the tubes upon the lowering of the assembly relative to the receptacle. The extractor fingers include pressure-applying means selectively operable in a positive sense to seize the tubes, the tubes being thereupon withdrawn from the receptacle upon the assembly being vertically raised in relation thereto with the tubes being thereafter projected onto a feeder platform upon the assembly being angularly adjusted to a position extending ninety degrees to the vertical relation. In the latter adjusted position, the tubes carried by the extractor fingers extend horizontally onto a feeder platform so that upon operation of the pressure-applying means in an opposite negative sense, the tubes are released from the extractor fingers and projected onto the feeder platform by subsequent operation of means for stripping the tubes from the extractor fingers, with the stripping means upon completion of the stripping action being thereafter retracted from the feeder platform and out of contacting engagement with the tubes so as to permit a sweeper device to effectively force the tubes along the feeder platform and into a chute for supplying the tubes to a machine for filling the tubes with a suitable dispensible material. Further cooperating in timed relation with the foregoing operation of the transfer assembly is a stepper mechanism for advancing the receptacle in a step relation to the extraction operation of the extractor fingers so that succeeding rows of tubes in the receptacle may be effectively extracted in succession by the foregoing operation of the extractor fingers.

United States Patent 1 Reichert APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING AND FEEDINGTUBES TO A MACHINE FOR FILLING THE TUBES WITH A SUITABLE MATERIAL [76]Inventor: August Reichert, 29 Berwyn PL,

Glen Rock, NJ.

[22] Filed: Sept. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 178,558

[52] US. Cl..... 214/309, 214/1 BD [51] Int. Cl B65b 21/02 [58] Field ofSearch 214/309, 1 BD; 141/168, 171

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,741,381 4/1956 Bezien214/309 3,120,770 2/1964 Hoyt 214/1 B X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS528,503 7/1956 Canada 214/309 Primary Examiner- -Gerald M. ForlenzaAssistant Examiner-George F. Abraham Attorney-Thomas E. Tate [5 7]ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for extracting empty collapsible cartontubes from a transport receptacle in which a transfer assembly is soarranged as to be raised and lowered in operative relation to thereceptacle while July 24, 1973 extractor fingers carried by the assemblyare effectively inserted into the tubes upon the lowering of theassembly relative to the receptacle. The extractor fingers includepressure-applying means selectively operable in a positive sense toseize the tubes, the tubes being thereupon withdrawn from the receptacleupon the assembly being vertically raised in relation thereto with thetubes being thereafter projected onto a feeder platform upon theassembly being angularly adjusted to a position extending ninety degreesto the vertical relation. In the latter adjusted position, the tubescarried by the extractor fingers extend horizontally onto a feederplatform so that upon operation of the pressureapplying means in anopposite negative sense, the tubes are released from the extractorfiingers and projected onto the feeder platform by subsequent operationof means for stripping the tubes from the extractor fingers, with thestripping means upon completion of the stripping action being thereafterretracted from the feeder platform and out of contacting engagement withthe tubes so as to permit a sweeper device to effectively force thetubes along the feeder platform and into a chute for supplying the tubesto a machine for filling the tubes with a suitable dispensible material.Further cooperating in timed relation with the foregoing operation ofthe transfer assembly is a stepper mechanism for advancing thereceptacle in a step relation to the extraction operation of theextractor fingers so that succeeding rows of tubes in the receptacle maybe effectively extracted in succession by the foregoing operation of theextractor fingers.

9 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures July 24, 1.973

United States Patent [1 1 Reichert PATENTED 2 75 SHEEI 1 0F 7 INVENTOR.

AUGUST RE ICHERT Attorney PATENTED L 2 4 75 SHEU 3 0f 7 T tll J l jllllll INVENTOR.

AUGUST RE ICH ERT Attorney Pmminm 7 3.747.786

INVENTOR- AUGUST RE I'C H E RT PATENTEDJULZMQH SHEET 8 0F 7 INVENTOR.

AUGUST REICHERT 7 fljma.

Attornev PATENTED JUL 24 SIEEI'HIF? INVENTOR.

AUGUST REICH ERT BY Attorney APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING AND FEEDING TUBESTO A MACHINE FOR FILLING THE TUBES WITH A SUITABLE MATERIAL CROSSREFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND PATENTS The present inventionrelates to a method and apparatus for extracting collapsible cartontubes from a transport receptacle and feeding the extracted tubes to achute or hopper of a mechanism for supplying the tubes to tube holdersin a tube filling line.

The hopper may be of a type including a mechanism cooperating therewithto periodically position a tube supplied from the hopper into a holderin the tube filling line, as disclosed in my copending United Statesapplication Ser. No. 210,748 filed Dec. 22, 1971.

The tube holders provided in the aforesaid tube filling line may be ofthe type disclosed in my U.S. Pats. No. 2,574,157 and No. 3,147,018.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention isin the field of high speed tube filling apparatus and methods and isspecifically directed to an improved method and apparatus for extractingempty collapsible carton tubes from a transport receptacle and feedingsuch tubes to a machine for filling the tubes with dispensible materialsof a wide range of viscosities, such as tooth paste, shaving cream,paints and food pastes, as well as other materials of suitable typeswell known in the art.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore there has been provided tubefilling apparatus, such as illustrated by the automatic tube fillingline GA-2 shown in a bulletin identified as GAD2- l069-E ofArenco***Arenco AB Machinery Division of the Swedish Match Group andbearing a notation Printed in Sweden. In such tube filling line GA-2,the tube holders may be of a type described in my aforesaid U.S. Pats.No. 2,574,157 and No. 3,147,018.

As distinguished from such automatic tube filling line and tube holders,the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus forextracting collapsible tubes from a transport receptacle and feeding theextracted tubes to a chute or hopper. The hopper may be of a typeincluding a mechanism cooperating therewith, as described in myaforesaid copending United States application Ser. No. 210,748, whichmechanism is so arranged as to periodically position a tube suppliedfrom the hopper into a holder in the tube filling line.

The tube extracting and feeding apparatus and method of the presentinvention are comprised of a transfer assembly carrying a plurality ofextractor fingers and operable by a first control means in a first stepof the method to lower the transfer assembly in relation to thereceptacle to an extreme lowered position in which the extractor fingersare effectively inserted into tubes carried by the receptacle. A secondcontrol means is thereafter effective in a second step of the method tocause pressure-applying means of the extractor fingers to be operated ina positive sense to seize the tubes. The first control means isthereupon operable in a third step of the method to raise the transferassembly in relation to the receptacle to an extreme upper positioncausing the extractor fingers to be raised vertically to a positionwhereby the seized tubes are extracted out of the receptacle. Upon theextracted carton tubes being thus raised clear of the box, a thirdcontrol means is rendered effective in a fourth step of the method toangularly position the transfer assembly and thereby the extractorfingers to a ninety degree angular adjusted position relative to thepreviously raised vertical position of the extractor fingers. Followingthe third step of the method, the first control means is operative in afifth step of the method to lower the transfer assembly to a positionintermediate the aforementioned extreme upper and lower positions. Inthis intermediate position, the extractor fingers are so positioned thatthe tubes seized thereby, following the fourth step of the method,project in parallel relation to a surface of a feeder platform andpartially onto the surface of a feeder platform preparatory to the tubesbeing stripped from the extractor fingers. At this time, the secondcontrol means is rendered effective in a sixth step of the method tocause the pressure-applying means of the extractor fingers to becomeoperative in an opposite negative sense to release the tubes previouslyseized by the extractor fingers. Upon such release of the seized cartontubes, a fourth control means is rendered effective in a seventh step ofthe method to actuate a comb-like member in a sense to cause teeth ofthe comb-like member to engage the released tubes and strip such tubesfrom the extractor fingers and cause the tubes then held freely on thefingers to be moved off the fingers and onto the surface of the feederplatform. Thereafter, in an eighth step of the method, the fourthcontrol means is rendered effective to actuate the comblike member in areverse direction and back off the surface of the feeder platform. Next,a ninth step of the method is effected by a fifth control means beingrendered effective to actuate a sweeper plate to force the tubes alongthe surface of the feeder platform and into a chute for supplying thetubes to a machine for filling the carton tubes with a suitablematerial. Finally, and as an additional step of the method, there isprovided a stepper mechanism for advancing the transport receptacle in astep relation to the extraction operation of the fingers of the transferassembly so that succeeding rows of tubes in the receptacle may beeffectively extracted.

The prior art does not teach or suggest the steps of the present method,the provision of means for effecting the extraction and feeding of thetubes to a tube filling machine, or the concept of a transfer assemblyincluding extractor fingers providing the double function of extractingtubes from a transport receptacle by the lowering and raising of thetransfer assembly in relation to the receptacle and, thereafter, throughthe pivotal adjustment of the transfer assembly, to effect transfer ofthe extracted tubes to a surface of a feeder platform and thereby to amechanism for supplying the tubes to a tube filling machine. 1

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention contemplates a method andapparatus for extracting empty collapsible tubes from a transportreceptacle and feeding the tubes to a machine for filling the tubes witha suitable dispensible material, and, more particularly, the provisionof a transfer assembly carrying extractor fingers operable in onepredetermined position to extract the tubes from the transportreceptacle and effective in another predetermined position of thetransfer assembly to deliver the tubes to a surface of a feeder platformfor supplying the tubes to the machine for filling the tubes.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved methodand apparatus for readily and expeditiously extracting empty collapsibletubes or the like from a transport receptacle and feeding the extractedtubes to a chute or hopper of a mechanism for supplying the tubes totube holders in a tube filling line.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of thecharacter stated that is completely automatic and does not require humanhandling or contact with the collapsible tubes during any stage ofoperation, thereby avoiding any possibility of contamination of thetubes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide, in automaticapparatus of the type stated, means for advancing the tube transportreceptacle in successive equidistant steps in relation to the tubeextracting operation in which the distance of each step corresponds tothe spacing of tube rows in the receptacle so that the extractor fingersmay be effectively advanced from the first row of tubes in thereceptacle to the last row of tubes, and whereby the succeeding rows ofcarton tubes in the receptacle may be effectively extracted.

A further object of this invention is to provide a transfer assemblyincluding a plurality of extractor fingers arranged to withdraw one rowof carton tubes at a time from the transport receptacle or box anddeliver them to a feeder surface of a tube filling machine.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a transferassembly having the double function of removing rows of carton tubesfrom a transport receptacle or box and transporting the extracted tubesto a feeder surface of an automatic tube filling machine in which thetubes are placed on the feeder surface in a horizontal position byrotation of the transfer assembly through 90 from the vertical extractedposition of the tubes.

These and other objects, together with the advantages of the invention,are manifest from the following description in terms of the embodimentthereof which is shown in the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, wherein like referencenumerals indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a typical transport receptacle or boxcarrying collapsible carton tubes to which the invention may be applied,which receptacle or box has been partially emptied in the application ofthe method and apparatus of the present invention in the extraction ofsuch tubes;

FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation of an apparatus embodying thepresent invention shown at a point in the cycle of operation when thecarton tubes have just been turned to a horizontal position and with thedot-dash outline showing a point in the cycle of operation during whichthe carton tubes have had an upward extraction movement impartedthereto, shortly after withdrawal of the extracted carton tubes from thetransport receptacle or box;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG; 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of the transferassembly of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 with fragments of the extractor fingersbeing illustrated;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view, partially insection, of one of the extractor fingers of FIG. 5 taken along the line6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an elevational section view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 6and illustrating a carton tube in a position in relation to an extractorfinger before the seizure thereof;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating the effect of theapplication of fluid pressure or compressed air to the control piston ofthe extractor finger for effecting the seizure mode of operation;

FIG. 9 is an elevational section view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8and illustrating the seizure of a carton tube, a portion of the tubebeing shown in section;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view of a cam plate and controlling camsurfaces for three cam followers and control follower arms; a first ofthe control follower arms for effecting the raising and lowering of thetransfer assembly relative to the transport receptacle or boxillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3; a second control follower arm to effectthe angular positioning of the transfer assembly and the extractorfingers thereof for delivering extracted carton tubes to a surface of afeeder platform for a tube filling machine; and a third cam surface forperiodically actuating a third control arm to render effective a steppermechanism for advancing the transport receptacle carrying the cartontubes in step relation to the extraction operation of the extractorfingers;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line Illl of FIG. 10and illustrating the relationship of the cam followers to congruentportions of the controlling cam surfaces provided in the cam of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan view of another of the control cam plates ofFIGS. 2 and 3 and illustrating the controlling cam surfaces of such camplate, one of the controlling cam surfaces being shown in relation to acontrolling switch arm of a switch to selectively effect seizure andrelease of carton tubes by operation of the pressure-applying means ofthe extractor fingers, and the other controlling cam surface or channelbeing shown in cooperative relation with a control follower arm foreffecting operation of means for stripping the carton tubes from theextractor fingers upon release of the pressure-applying means;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a congruent action of thecontrolling cam surface of the cam plate of FIG. 10 on the first andsecond control arms of the transfer assembly of FIGS. 2 and 3 at themoment when the extracttor fingers of the transfer assembly are at theirlowermost position relative to the transport receptacle or box andprojecting into the carton tubes preparatory to extraction of the tubesfrom the receptacle;

FIG. 14 is similar to FIG. 13 but provides a composite diagrammatic viewdepicting two successive positions of operation of the controlling camsurfaces of FIG. 10, illustrating at the left the extractor finger atthe uppermost position with an extracted carton tube in the verticalposition, while at the right of this view there is shown the other ofthe two composite successive positions of operation in which theextractor finger at the intermediate adjusted position of elevation isshown turned to the horizontal position preparatory to the carton tubebeing stripped from the extractor finger by operation of the comb-likemember or stripper plate of FIG. 3 for transference of the tube to thesurface of the feeder platform;

FIG. is a composite diagrammatic view illustrating two successivepositions of operation of the stripper plate shown in FIG. 3 effected bythe action of the other controlling cam surface or channel of the camplate, shown in FIG. 12, to impart to the stripper plate, shown in theupper rest position of this view, an action to free the carton tube fromthe extractor finger, as shown in the lower position of this view, andeffective upon an extractor finger being in the aforenoted horizontalposition for supplying the carton tube to the surface of the feederplatform by such operation of the stripper plate of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 16 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken on line l6l6of FIG. 15 so as to illustrate the cooperative action of the stripperplate or comb-like member of FIG. 3 in relation to the carton tubescarried by the extractor fingers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring initially to FIGS. 2 and 3, theapparatus illustrated therein is shown at a point of tube removal inagreement with FIG. 1, that is, the transport receptacle or box 30 ofFIG. 1 is shown half empty, the collapsible tubes 31 seen above thereceptacle 30 in FIGS. 2 and 3 having been extracted from the sixth rowof the receptacle.

The transport receptacle 30 has an open top and is compartmented tocarry multiple rows of empty tubes 31. As shown in FIG. 1, receptacle 30is divided into twelve rows of eight compartments of like size andadapted to carry corresponding tubes 31.

As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus of the present invention may include aframe 2 having a platform 4 supported on side walls 6 and 8, a frontwall 10 (broken away) and a rear wall 12. Another platform 14 issupported on pillars l6 and 18. Vertically extending guide means orslide rods secured to platform 4 are rendered rigid at their upperextremities by a cross member 22 (FIG. 3) affixed to the frame 2. Anenclosure 24 mounted on platform 4 prevents accidental contact withoperating linkage passing through this platform, as hereinafterexplained. Two rails 26 and 28 guide transport receptacle 30 which maycarry conventional type collapsible tubes 31, as illustrated in FIG. 1.Rail 26 is turned out at its entry end 27, as shown in FIG. 4, to avoidhang-up at the point of direction change, where it joins a lateral rail32, while rail 28 continues back to a lateral rail 34. The transportreceptacle 30 is fed to the apparatus with its longer sides in slidablecontacting relation between rails 32 and 34, as shown by FIGS. 3 and 4.Receptacle 30, without turning, changes its direction of travel andmoves separately between rails 26 and 28, as may be best seen from FIG.4. The emptied receptacle 30 moves off the apparatus at the front wall10.

Finally, above platform 4, a bracket 36 supports a pair of spaced,parallel rods 38 (FIGS. 2 and 4) which clear the receptacle 30 andstraddle a plurality of extractor fingers 37 to prevent the drag of tubepartitions along with the tubes 31 during extraction. The height of therods 38 may be adjusted in suitable slots in bracket 36 and fixed in anadjusted position by suitable fastening bolts 39.

Below platform 4, a motor and a belt or chain (not shown) drives apulley or sprocket 40 which,as shown in FIG. 2, rotates shaft 42carrying a pair of spaced cam plates 44 and 46 which are affixed toshaft 42 at 43 and 45, respectively. The cam plates 44 and 46 have camsurfaces shown in detail in FIGS. 10 and 12, as explained hereinafter. Asmall speed reduction motor 48 (FIG. 3) drives through a belt 50 apulley 52 riding freely on a shaft 54 extending between bearing supports56 and 58 affixed to the frame 2, as shown in FIG. 2. The shaft 54 isdriven through a pair of friction clutches 60 in which the drivingelements are attached to pulley 52 and the driven elements are attachedto the shaft 54. A pair of spaced sprockets 62, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3and 4, are keyed to shaft 54 and carry continuous chains 64 around arear pair of sprockets 66 pinned to a shaft 68 extending between a pairof bearing supports similar to 56 and 58 except that shaft 68 extends towall 6 terminating in a gear 70, as shown in FIG. 3.

Each chain 64, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, carries three members 72which pass into and out of slots 74 in platform 4 when shaft 54 ispermitted to turn. Thus, upon the transport receptacle 30 being slidablypositioned or urged between rails 32 and 34 into a position limited bythe rail 28, it will be seen that the receptacle will then beeffectively transported in a right angular direction between the rails26 and 28 through the apparatus under the driving force of the members72 projecting through the slots 74 and engaging the lower side surfacesof receptacle 30.

Shaft 54 is drivingly connected to sprockets 62 and through the chains64 to sprockets 66 drivingly connected to gear 70. Rotation of shaft 54is effectively restrained by a pawl 76 engaged by a selected tooth of atoothed portion 77 of a partial ratchet 78 spindled at 80 and having anon-toothed portion 79 and a gear 82 connected thereto and meshing withgear 70.

The arrangement, as shown in FIG. 3, is such that the pawl 76, beingbiased under suitable spring tension into engagement with the teeth ofthe toothed portion 77 of the partial ratchet 78, prevents rotation ofthe gears 82 and 70 in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3.The pawl 76, however, is pinned to a shaft 84 carrying a cam follower86, so that, while motor 48 continues to turn, the clutches 60 are soarranged as to slip so that the transport receptacle 30 will not bemoved along the rails 26 and 28, unless the cam follower 86 is actuatedin a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, so that pawl 76 islifted out of locking relation with the teeth of the toothed portion 77of the ratchet 78.

A housing 88 of a transfer assembly 90 (FIG. 4) is equipped with slidebearings 92 for guiding the transfer assembly along the verticallyextending guide rods 20, as illustrated in FIG. 2. A collar 94, fixed toa shaft 96 spindled in housing 88, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, turnsat a bearing base 98 carried by thehousing 88. An arm 100 is suitablysecured at one end in the collar 94 and carries laterally disposedextractor fingers 37.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 9, collar 94 has two bores 104 and 106externally connected to a pneumatic system (not shown) and providingcontrolling fluid pressure ports. Internally, the bores 104 and 106communicate respectively with bores 108 and 110 running the length ofthe arm 100. Lateral bores 112 and 114 in the arm 100 communicaterespectively with bores 108 and 110 and with bores 116 and 118 in thechambered neck 120 of each extractor finger 37, as H lustrated in FIG.6.

Chamber 122 is a cylinder in which an O-ring type piston 123 is made tomove in one sense in accordance with a controlling fluid or air pressureapplied to piston 123 and released at the control ports. A piston rod125 operably positioned by the O-ring piston 123 terminates in a noseportion 124, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. Two recesses 126 in sidesurfaces of the extractor finger 37 are arranged to accept leaf springs128 which are affixed at one end portion within the respective recesses126 by fastening screws 130. The other end portion of each of the leafsprings 128 has mounted thereon a soft rubber pad 132. A lateral bore134 holds balls 136 which, as shown in FIG. 7, touch each other and thesprings 128 without pressure or are slightly free upon the controllingfluid pressure being released at the control ports.

Further, FIG. 9 illustrates the manner in which the light leaf springs128 provide through the pads 132 a pressure applying means for causingthe extractor fingers 37 to seize the collapsible tubes 31 along theinner surfaces thereof. The leaf springs 128 may bow slightly to allowfor tolerances rather than have the pads 132 apply excessive pressure atthe inner surfaces of the tubes 31 which might otherwise cause damage tothe tubes. A recess or channel 137 is provided along one side of eachextractor finger 37 for a purpose to be described further along herein.The extractor fingers 37 are carried by the transfer assembly 90 whichincludes the mounting arm 100 secured at one end in the collar 94 andarranged to be readily removed from the collar 94 by the operatorreleasing a single fastening screw 138 in the collar 94, as shown inFIG. 5.

Directing attention now to FIGS. 2, 3, l and 12, the cam plate 44, whichis best shown in FIG. 10, has a near side captive cam surface or channel140, a far side captive cam surface or channel 142, and a free camsurface 144. As regards cam plate 46 (FIG. 12), the same has a captivecam surface or channel 146 in the far side and a free cam surface 148.Cam surfaces 140 and 142 accept, respectively, cam followers 152 and 154on respective arms 156 and 158 which are pivotally mounted at 160 (FIG.3) at one end of the arms on a bearing support 161 affixed to the frame2. An opposite end portion of arm 156 is pivotally connected at 163 atone end of a link 162 and through the link 162 to a pivot 164 affixed tohousing 88, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thus, upon an up and downmovement being imparted to the link 162 by the cam surface 140,corresponding movement is imparted to the housing 88 on the verticallyextending guide rods 20. An opposite end portion of arm 158 is pivotallyconnected at 165 to one end of link 166 and through link 166 to a pivot167 on a crank 168 which is mounted on shaft 96 and connected to thehousing 88. Thus, an angular adjustment of the housing 88 and acorresponding adjustment of the arm 100 carried thereby may be effectedby the cam surface 142 of the plate 44. This angular adjustment may beimparted through the link 166 and crank 168. Free cam surface 144 on theplate 44 is arranged to actuate the cam follower arm 86, shown in FIGS.2, 3 and 10, for freeing the hold on the receptacle drive or steppermechanism effected by pawl 76 on the ratchet 78. (The location of thecam follower arm 86 seen in FIG. 3 is referenced angularly at 86A inFIG.

The cam surface or channel 146 in plate 46 accepts a follower 170 on anarm 172 which is pivotally connected at 173 (FIG. 15) to parallel motionlinkage arms 174 pivoted at 175 on a bearing support 176 which isaffixed to the frame 2. The upper end portions of the arms 174 arepivotally connected at 177 to a link 178 having an adjustable bracket180 affixed thereto by bolts 181. The bracket 180 is arranged to supporta comb-like member 182 having teeth 184 which pass through the channelor space 137 in the extractor fingers 37 (FIGS. 6-9). Thus, a tube 31held freely and horizontally, as in FIGS. 15 and 16, will be moved offthe extractor finger 37 onto the surface of the feeder platform 14 bythe action of the cam surface or channel 146 in the plate 46 on the camfollower 170 and arm 172 of FIG. 12.

Furthermore, the free cam surface 148 on the plate 46 actuates a controlarm 187 of a switch 188 to cause the admission of fluid under pressureto port 116 (FIG. 6) by a 4-way valve to render effective apressureapplying means of the extractor fingers 37 for seizing the tubes31. However, upon the cam follower arm 187 passing off the raised camsurface 148, the control switch 188 may be actuated in a sense to causerelease of the fluid pressure of air, freeing the grip on the tube ofthe extractor finger 37. The cycles of operation of the several camsurfaces of the plates 44 and 46 are illustrated in FIGS. 10, 12, l3, l4and 15.

OPERATION The cam surfaces of the respective plates 44 and 46 inrelation to the respective cam followers are shown at the point when theextractor fingers 37 reach their lowermost position, at which positionthe extractor fingers 37 are rendered effective for seizing the tubes 31in the transport receptacle 30. This is referenced rotationally as thezero degrees (0) position indicated by line 200 on the plates 44 and 46of FIGS. 10 and 12. In this 0 position, the switch 188 has just closedto effect seizure of the tubes 31 by the extractor fingers 37. Duringsubsequent rotation of the plate 44 to the effective cam positionindicated by the line 202 of FIG. 10, the cam surfaces 140 and 142 moveon a circular path holding the extractor fingers 37 stationary while thetubes 31 remain seized by the extractor fingers.

From the position indicated by the line 202 to the line 203, the fingers37 are raised so as to fully extract the seized tubes 31 from thetransport receptacle 30, while upon rotation of the cam plate 44 to theposition indicated by line 204, the transfer assembly rises to itshighest point. At this point, the free cam surface 1 14 of the plate 44actuates the follower arm 86 of FIG. 3 in a counterclockwise directionso that pawl 76 is moved out of engaging relation with the teeth of theratchet 78 and friction clutches 60 of FIG. 2 thereupon become effectiveto drive the sprockets 62, chains 64 and the element 72 of the steppermechanism or transport drive to advance the transport receptacle 30 in astep of a distance corresponding to that of the spacing of the tuberows, as will be further described.

From the position indicated by the line 204 to the indicator line 206 ofFIG. 10, divergence of congruency of cam surfaces of channels 140 and142 of the plate 44 cause a simultaneous lowering of the transferassembly 90 and an angular rotation of arm so as to cause the extractorfingers 37 to be angularly adjusted to a horizontal position while thetransfer assembly 90 and the extractor fingers 37 carried thereby arelowered to a position intermediate the extreme upper and lower positionsheretofore described. During the last 45 of this part of the cycle ofoperation, the cam surface or channel 146 of the plate 46 of FIG. 12moves the follower 170 from the position indicated by the line 205 tothe indicated position 206 so that the comb-like member 182 ispositioned thereby well behind engagement with any portion of the cartontubes 31.

At this point, indicated by the line 206 of FIG. 12, the free camsurface 148 releases the cam follower arm 187 so as to actuate switch188 in a sense to cause a release of the held fluid pressure causing thepiston 123 in the extractor finger 37 to free the tubes 31 from pads 132acting on the inner surface of the tube 31 in a gripping sense.

However, the transfer assembly 90 is held stationary from the indicatedpoints 206 to 208 of FIG. 10 (because both cam surfaces 140 and 142 ofthe cam plate 44 again move in an arcuate circular path), while the camsurface 146 of FIG. 12 from the point indicated by the line 206 to thepoint 208 moves the comb-like plate 182 in the recessed channel 137 ofthe finger 37 toward the tube 31 and the teeth 184 of the comb-likeplate 182 into engagement with the edge or end surface of the skirts ofthe tubes 31 so as to force the tubes 31 off the fingers 37.

From the point indicated by the line 208 to the point 210 of FIG. 12there is provided a hump at the point 210 in the cam surface 146 whichaffects the arm 172 in such a manner that the tubes 31 are stripped fromthe fingers 37 and positioned completely onto the surface of the feederplatform 14. Thereafter the hump at point 210 in the cam surface orchannel 146 so affects the cam follower arm 172 that the stripper plateor comb-like member 182 is slightly retracted to its normal restposition (i.e. the position effected by the circular portion of the camsurface or channel 146) as seen in FIGS. 3 and 12, so that the comb-likemember is clear of the sweeper plates 220 and the tubes 31 do not catchon the comb-like member 182 as the tubes 31 are moved along the surfaceof the feeder platform 4 in parallel relation one to the other, as shownby FIG. 2, under the force of the sweeper plates 220 in a mannerhereinafter described.

From point 208 to point 214 of FIG. 10, the cam surface or channel 142is in the form of an arc of a circle so that no angular adjustment ormovement is imparted to the crank pin 167 (FIG. 3). But the cam surfaceor channel 140 rises and thus crank arm 168 is turned on the crank pin167 as a center of rotation whereupon the fingers 37 carried by the arm100 of the transfer assembly 90 are returned once again to a verticalposition. However, from th point indicated by line 214 of FIG. 10, bothcam surfaces or channels 140 and 142 are congruent causing the transferassembly 90 to move down and back to the zero degree position indicatedby line 200 of FIG. 10, so as to be preparatory for repetition of theforegoing cycle of operation.

When the free cam surface 144 of plate 44 (FIG. once again lifts pawl 76(FIG. 3), the transport receptacle 30 is moved by one of the threedriving members 72 of the stepper mechanism until the pawl 76 falls intothe next ratchet tooth, stopping the transport receptacle or box 30 at aposition corresponding to that to render the fingers 37 effective toextract the next row of tubes (FIG. 1). After the last row of tubes 31,the pawl 76 rides on the non-toothed portion 79 and free of any of theteeth of the toothed portion 77 of the ratchet 78 for a predeterminedangular distance required to effectively position the next transportreceptacle or box for extraction of its first row of tubes .31 andimmediately under the extractor fingers 37.. By interchanging ratchet 78for a different number of teeth in the toothed portion 77 in the samearcuate distance (teeth pitch will change), transport receptacles orboxes of varying capacities of tubes 31, such as 8 X 8 or 8 X 10 insteadof 8 X 12, may be accommodated.

Removal of the tubes 31 from the feeder platform 14 is effected byhaving sweeper plates 220 carried by a belt 222 running over pulleys 224spindled on supports 226 carried by the platform 14 of the frame 2. Asuitable drive connection, not shown, is arranged to synchronize thedrive of the sprocket 40 and thereby the actuation of the stripper plate182 with that of the drive of the pulleys 224 of the sweeper plates 220so as to avoid interference in the operation of the one with the other.

Furthermore, an angular guide plate 228 is so arranged as to serve toalign the tubes 31, as shown in FIG. 2, before discharge from the feederplatform 14 to other equipment indicated at 230 such as a hopper orchute for supplying the tubes 31 to suitable automatic tube fillingmachine which may be of the type heretofore explained. 1

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, various changes in the form and relative arrangements of theparts which will now appear obvious to those skilled in the art may bemade without departing from the scope of the invention. Reference is,therefore, to be had to the appended claims for a definition of thelimits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. For use with a machine of a type for filling carton tubes with adispensible material, the combination comprising a transfer assembly,extractor finger means carried by the transfer assembly, firstpositioning means drivingly connected to the transfer assembly tooperatively position the transfer assembly and thereby the finger meansin linear senses to extract carton tubes from a transport receptacle, afeeder surface, second positioning means drivingly connected to thetransfer assembly to position the transfer assembly in angular senses,control means for rendering the second positioning means effectivefollowing completion of extraction of carton tubes by the positioning ofthe transfer assembly and the extractor finger means in said linearsenses, said second positioning means being thereupon effective toposition the transfer in one of said angular senses so as to cause theextractor finger means to extend in a cooperative relation to the feedersurface, and means thereafter effective to displace the extracted cartontubes from the finger means and onto the feeder surface,, said transferassembly including a housing, an arm carrying the extractor finger meansand means to pivotally mount an end of the arm in the housing,vertically extending guide means to slidably mount the housing, thehousing being operatively positioned on the guide means in said linearsenses by the first positioning means being connected to the housing ofthe transfer assembly, the arm carrying the extractor finger means beingangularly positioned in the pivoted mounting means in the housing by thesecond positioning means being connected to the arm of the transfer assembly to position the arm in said angular senses, said secondpositioning means being effective to cause the finger means carried bythe arm to be adjusted in said one angular sense from a verticallyextending position to a horizontally extending position parallel to thefeeder surface and in said cooperative relation therewith.

2. The combination defined by claim 1 including other means to controlthe extractor finger means, said other control means rendering theextractor finger means effective in one sense to seize the carton tubesin the transport receptacle upon a lowering of the vertically extendingfinger means in one of said linear senses to a position in the cartontubes in the transport receptacle and thereafter effect the extractionof the lastmentioned carton tubes upon a raising of the verticallyextending finger means in another of said linear senses to a positionout of the transport receptacle, said other control means rendering theextractor finger means effective in an opposite sense to release theseized carton tubes upon the finger means being angularly adjusted fromthe vertically extending position to the horizontally extending positionparallel to the feeder surface.

3. The combination defined by claim 2, in which the means to displacethe extracted carton tubes from the finger means include stripping meansto engage the carton tubes, means drivingly connected to the strippingmeans and effective to actuate the stripping means into an engagingrelation with the carton tubes upon the finger means being angularlyadjusted from the vertically extending position to the horizontallyextending position parallel to the feeder surface so as to cause thestripping means to displace the carton tubes from the extractor fingermeans and onto the feeder surface, said first and second positioningmeans being effective, upon completion of the actuation of the strippingmeans, to position the housing and the arm in respective linear andangular senses so as to return the transfer assembly and thereby theextractor finger means to an operative position relative to thetransport receptacle preparatory to extraction of succeeding cartontubes from the transport receptacle.

4. The combination defined by claim 3 additionally including a sweepermechanism arranged in cooperative relation with the feeder surface anddriven in synchronized relation with the operation of the means todisplace the carton tubes from the finger means, said sweeper mechanismbeing effective after the displacement of the carton tubes from thefinger means to move the tubes along the feeder surface clear of thedisplacement means and under the force of the sweeper mechanism forsupplying the carton tubes to the tube filling machine.

5. The combination defined by claim 1 additionally including other meansto control the extractor finger means, the said other control meansrendering the extractor finger means effective in one sense to seize thecarton tubes in the transport receptacle upon the positioning of thefinger means in one of said linear senses into the transport receptacleand thereby effect the extraction of the last-mentioned carton tubesupon the positioning of the finger means in another of said linearsenses out of the transport receptacle, said other control meansrendering the extractor finger means effective in an opposite sense torelease the seized carton tubes upon the positioning of the transferassembly by the second positioning means in said one angular sense, themeans to displace the extracted carton tubes from the finger meansincluding stripping means to engage the carton tubes, means drivinglyconnected to the stripping means and effective to actuate the strippingmeans into an engaging relation with the carton tubes upon thepositioning of the transfer assembly by the second positioning means insaid one angular sense so as to cause the stripping means to displacethe carton tubes from the extractor finger means and onto the feedersurface, a sweeper mechanism including a sweeper plate arranged incooperative relation with the feeder surface and driven in synchronizedrelation with the operation of the means to displace the carton tubesfrom the finger means, said sweeper plate being effective after thedisplacement of the carton tubes from the finger means to move the tubesalong the feeder surface clear of interference with the stripping meansand under the force of the driven sweeper plate for supplying the cartontubes to the tube filling machine, and, upon completion of the actuationof the stripping means, said first and second positioning means beingeffective to position the transfer assembly in respective linear andangular senses so as to return the transfer assembly and thereby theextractor finger means to an operative position relative to thetransport receptacle preparatory to extraction of succeeding cartontubes from the transport receptacle.

6. In an apparatus of a type including an automatic line of tube holdersand means for filling carton tubes carried by the holders with adispensible material, a transport receptacle having an open top andcarrying multiple rows of empty carton tubes, each of said rowsincluding a plurality of carton tubes equal in number to the pluralityof carton tubes in each other of said rows of carton tubes, and feedersurface means for supplying carton tubes to the automatic tube fillingline, the improvement comprising; a transfer assembly including aplurality of extractor fingers equal in number to the number of cartontubes in each of said rows, first control means to lower from an initialraised position the transfer assembly and thereby the extractor fingersthrough the open top of the receptacle and into the carton tubes of oneof said rows; second control means to thereupon cause the extractorfingers to seize the carton tubes, said first control means beingthereafter effective to raise said transfer assembly and thereby theextractor fingers with the seized carton tubes of said one row so as toextract said one row of carton tubes through the open top of thereceptacle, said first control means subsequently positioning theextractor fingers of the transfer assembly so as to transfer the seizedcarton tubes to the feeder surface means, said second control means atthe last-mentioned position of the extractor fingers thereupon causingthe extractor fingers to release the transferred carton tubes to thefeeder surface means, the first control means returning the transferassembly and extractor fingers to the initial raised position uponcompletion of a cycle of the extraction operation, and a steppermechanism arranged in a driving relation with the transport receptacle,said stepper mechanism including releasable means periodically operableby the first control means after the extraction of said one row ofcarton tubes from the transport receptacle to permit the steppermechanism to advance by a step action the transport receptacle in asense and distance relative to the raised extractor fingers effective tocondition a succeeding row of the carton tubes for extraction by thetransfer assembly upon another corresponding cycle of the extractionoperation being thereafter initiated by the first control means,, saidfirst control means including first and second linkage means drivinglyconnected to said transfer assembly, cam means to operate the first andsecond linkage means, the first linkage means being operativelypositioned by the cam means so as to linearly position the transferassembly and the extractor fingers in vertical senses so as to lower andraise the transfer assembly relative to the open top of the receptacleto effect the extraction of the carton tubes of said one row therefrom,said second linkage means being operatively positioned by the cam meansso as to subsequently position the transfer assembly and thereby theextractor fingers in a sense to effect the transfer of the seized cartontubes to the feeder surface means, the releasable means of the steppermechanism being periodically operable by the cam means of the firstcontrol means so as to permit the stepper mechanism to advance by a stepaction the transport receptacle to condition the succeeding row ofcarton tubes carried by the transport receptacle for extraction by thetransfer assembly upon another cycle of the extraction operation.

7. The improvement defined by claim 6 including stripping means todisplace the extracted carton tubes from the extractor fingers, thesecond control means including linkage means drivingly connected to thestripping means, selectively operable means to render the extractorfingers effective in the one sense to seize the carton tubes andalternately effective in the other sense to release the seized cartontubes, the second control means also including cam means effective tooperate the selectively operable means in said one and a other senses,said linkage means being operatively positioned by the cam means of thesecond control means so as to actuate the stripping means into anengaging relation with the carton tubes so as to cause the strippingmeans to displace the carton tubes from the extractor fingersimmediately following the operation of the selectively operable means bythe cam means of the second control means in said other sense to causethe extractor fingers to release the transferred carton tubes to thefeeder surface means.

8. The improvement defined by claim 6 in which the first control meansincludes first and second linkage means drivingly connected to thetransfer assembly, cam means to operate the first and second linkagemeans, the first linkage means being operatively positioned by the cammeans so as to linearly position the transfer assembly and the extractorfingers in vertical senses so as to lower and raise the transferassembly relative to the open top of the receptacle to effect theextraction of the carton tubes of said one row therethrough, said secondlinkage means being operatively positioned by the cam means so as tosubsequently position the transfer assembly and thereby the extractorfingers in a sense to effect the transfer of the seized carton tubes tothe feeder surface means, stripping means to displace the extractedcarton tubes from the extractor fingers, the second control meansincluding linkage means drivingly connected to the stripping means,selectively operable means to render the extractor fingers effective inthe one sense to seize the carton tubes and alternately effective in theother sense to release the seized carton tubes, the second control meansincluding cam means effective to operate the selectively operable meansin said one and other senses, said linkage means being operativelypositioned by the cam means of the second control means so as to actuatethe stripping means into an engaging relation with the carton tubes soas to cause the stripping means to displace the carton tubes from theextractor fingers immediately following the operation of the selectivelyoperable means by the cam means of the second control means in saidother sense to cause the extractor fingers to release the transferredcarton tubes to the feeder surface means, a sweeper mechanism includinga sweeper plate arranged in cooperative relation with the feeder surfacemeans and driven in synchronized relation with the actuation of thestripping means to displace the carton tubes from the extractor fingers,the sweeper plate being effective after the displacement of the cartontubes from the extractor fingers to move the tubes along the feedersurface means clear of interference with the stripping means and underthe force of the driven sweeper plate for supplying the carton tubes tothe automatic tube filling line.

9. The improvement defined by claim 6 in which the stepper mechanismcomprises motor means, friction clutch means including input meansdriven by the motor means and output means, actuating means arranged indriving relation with the transport receptacle and operably connected tothe output means, and the releasable means includes a toothed portioncarried by the output means, a pawl to engage a tooth of said toothedportion to effectively restrain the output means from being driven bythe motor means through the friction clutch means, the pawl of thereleasable means being periodically operable by the first control meansto release the engaged tooth of said tooth portion carried by the outputmeans so as to permit the output means of the friction clutch means tobe driven by the motor means so as to cause the actuating means to beperiodically operable to advance by a step action the transportreceptacle in the sense and distance aforesaid.

1. For use with a machine of a type for filling carton tubes with adispensible material, the combination comprising a transfer assembly,extractor finger means carried by the transfer assembly, firstpositioning means drivingly connected to the transfer assembly tooperatively position the transfer assembly and thereby the finger meansin linear senses to extract carton tubes from a transport receptacle, afeeder surface, second positioning means drivingly connected to thetransfer assembly to position the transfer assembly in angular senses,control means for rendering the second positioning means effectivefollowing completion of extraction of carton tubes by the positioning ofthe transfer assembly and the extractor finger means in said linearsenses, said second positioning means being thereupon effective toposition the transfer in one of said angular senses so as to cause theextractor finger means to extend in a cooperative relation to the feedersurface, and means thereafter effective to displace the extracted cartontubes from the finger means and onto the feeder surface,, said transferassembly including a housing, an arm carrying the extractor finger meansand means to pivotally mount an end of the arm in the housing,vertically extending guide means to slidably mount the housing, thehousing being operatively positioned on the guide means in said linearsenses by the first positioning means being connected to the housing ofthe transfer assembly, the arm carrying the extractor finger means beingangularly positioned in the pivoted mounting means in the housing by thesecond positioning means being connected to the arm of the transferassembly to position the arm in said angular senses, said secondpositioning means being effective to cause the finger means carried bythe arm to be adjusted in said one angular sense from a verticallyextending position to a horizontally extending position parallel to thefeeder surface and in said cooperative relation therewith.
 2. Thecombination defined by claim 1 including other means to control theextractor finger means, said other control means rendering the extractorfinger means effective in one sense to seize the carton tubes in thetransport receptacle upon a lowering of the vertically extending fingermeans in one of said linear senses to a position in the carton tubes inthe transport receptacle and thereafter effect the extraction of thelast-mentioned carton tubes upon a raising of the vertically extendingfinger means in another of said linear senses to a position out of thetransport receptacle, said other control means rendering the extractorfinger means effective in an opposite sense to release the seized cartontubes upon the finger means being angularly adjusted from the verticallyextending position to the horizontally extending position parallel tothe feeder surface.
 3. The combination defined by claim 2, in which themeans to displace the extracted carton tubes from the finger meansinclude stripping means to engage the carton tubes, means drivinglyconnected to the stripping means and effective to actuate the strippingmeans into an engaging relation with the carton tubes upon the fingermeans being angularly adjusted from the vertically extending position tothe horizontally extending position parallel to the feeder surface so asto cause the stripping means to displace the carton tubes from theextractor finger means and onto the feeder surface, said first andsecond positioning means being effective, upon completion of theactuation of the stripping means, to position the housing and the arm inrespective linear and angular senses so as to return the transferassembly and thereby the extractor finger means to an operative positionrelative to the transport receptacle preparatory to extraction ofsucceeding carton tubes from the transport receptacle.
 4. Thecombination defined by claim 3 additionally including a sweepermechanism arranged in cooperative relation with the feeder surface anddriven in synchronized relation with the operation of the means todisplace the carton tubes from the finger means, said sweeper mechanismbeing effective after the displacement of the carton tubes from thefinger means to move the tubes along the feeder surface clear of thedisplacement means and under the force of the sweeper mechanism forsupplying the carton tubes to the tube filling machine.
 5. Thecombination defined by claim 1 additionally including other means tocontrol the extractor finger means, the said other control meansrendering the extractor finger means effective in one sense to seize thecarton tubes in the transport receptacle upon the positioning of thefinger means in one of said linear senses into the transport receptacleanD thereby effect the extraction of the last-mentioned carton tubesupon the positioning of the finger means in another of said linearsenses out of the transport receptacle, said other control meansrendering the extractor finger means effective in an opposite sense torelease the seized carton tubes upon the positioning of the transferassembly by the second positioning means in said one angular sense, themeans to displace the extracted carton tubes from the finger meansincluding stripping means to engage the carton tubes, means drivinglyconnected to the stripping means and effective to actuate the strippingmeans into an engaging relation with the carton tubes upon thepositioning of the transfer assembly by the second positioning means insaid one angular sense so as to cause the stripping means to displacethe carton tubes from the extractor finger means and onto the feedersurface, a sweeper mechanism including a sweeper plate arranged incooperative relation with the feeder surface and driven in synchronizedrelation with the operation of the means to displace the carton tubesfrom the finger means, said sweeper plate being effective after thedisplacement of the carton tubes from the finger means to move the tubesalong the feeder surface clear of interference with the stripping meansand under the force of the driven sweeper plate for supplying the cartontubes to the tube filling machine, and, upon completion of the actuationof the stripping means, said first and second positioning means beingeffective to position the transfer assembly in respective linear andangular senses so as to return the transfer assembly and thereby theextractor finger means to an operative position relative to thetransport receptacle preparatory to extraction of succeeding cartontubes from the transport receptacle.
 6. In an apparatus of a typeincluding an automatic line of tube holders and means for filling cartontubes carried by the holders with a dispensible material, a transportreceptacle having an open top and carrying multiple rows of empty cartontubes, each of said rows including a plurality of carton tubes equal innumber to the plurality of carton tubes in each other of said rows ofcarton tubes, and feeder surface means for supplying carton tubes to theautomatic tube filling line, the improvement comprising; a transferassembly including a plurality of extractor fingers equal in number tothe number of carton tubes in each of said rows, first control means tolower from an initial raised position the transfer assembly and therebythe extractor fingers through the open top of the receptacle and intothe carton tubes of one of said rows; second control means to thereuponcause the extractor fingers to seize the carton tubes, said firstcontrol means being thereafter effective to raise said transfer assemblyand thereby the extractor fingers with the seized carton tubes of saidone row so as to extract said one row of carton tubes through the opentop of the receptacle, said first control means subsequently positioningthe extractor fingers of the transfer assembly so as to transfer theseized carton tubes to the feeder surface means, said second controlmeans at the last-mentioned position of the extractor fingers thereuponcausing the extractor fingers to release the transferred carton tubes tothe feeder surface means, the first control means returning the transferassembly and extractor fingers to the initial raised position uponcompletion of a cycle of the extraction operation, and a steppermechanism arranged in a driving relation with the transport receptacle,said stepper mechanism including releasable means periodically operableby the first control means after the extraction of said one row ofcarton tubes from the transport receptacle to permit the steppermechanism to advance by a step action the transport receptacle in asense and distance relative to the raised extractor fingers effective tocondition a succeeding row of the carton tubes for extraction by theTransfer assembly upon another corresponding cycle of the extractionoperation being thereafter initiated by the first control means,, saidfirst control means including first and second linkage means drivinglyconnected to said transfer assembly, cam means to operate the first andsecond linkage means, the first linkage means being operativelypositioned by the cam means so as to linearly position the transferassembly and the extractor fingers in vertical senses so as to lower andraise the transfer assembly relative to the open top of the receptacleto effect the extraction of the carton tubes of said one row therefrom,said second linkage means being operatively positioned by the cam meansso as to subsequently position the transfer assembly and thereby theextractor fingers in a sense to effect the transfer of the seized cartontubes to the feeder surface means, the releasable means of the steppermechanism being periodically operable by the cam means of the firstcontrol means so as to permit the stepper mechanism to advance by a stepaction the transport receptacle to condition the succeeding row ofcarton tubes carried by the transport receptacle for extraction by thetransfer assembly upon another cycle of the extraction operation.
 7. Theimprovement defined by claim 6 including stripping means to displace theextracted carton tubes from the extractor fingers, the second controlmeans including linkage means drivingly connected to the strippingmeans, selectively operable means to render the extractor fingerseffective in the one sense to seize the carton tubes and alternatelyeffective in the other sense to release the seized carton tubes, thesecond control means also including cam means effective to operate theselectively operable means in said one and other senses, said linkagemeans being operatively positioned by the cam means of the secondcontrol means so as to actuate the stripping means into an engagingrelation with the carton tubes so as to cause the stripping means todisplace the carton tubes from the extractor fingers immediatelyfollowing the operation of the selectively operable means by the cammeans of the second control means in said other sense to cause theextractor fingers to release the transferred carton tubes to the feedersurface means.
 8. The improvement defined by claim 6 in which the firstcontrol means includes first and second linkage means drivinglyconnected to the transfer assembly, cam means to operate the first andsecond linkage means, the first linkage means being operativelypositioned by the cam means so as to linearly position the transferassembly and the extractor fingers in vertical senses so as to lower andraise the transfer assembly relative to the open top of the receptacleto effect the extraction of the carton tubes of said one rowtherethrough, said second linkage means being operatively positioned bythe cam means so as to subsequently position the transfer assembly andthereby the extractor fingers in a sense to effect the transfer of theseized carton tubes to the feeder surface means, stripping means todisplace the extracted carton tubes from the extractor fingers, thesecond control means including linkage means drivingly connected to thestripping means, selectively operable means to render the extractorfingers effective in the one sense to seize the carton tubes andalternately effective in the other sense to release the seized cartontubes, the second control means including cam means effective to operatethe selectively operable means in said one and other senses, saidlinkage means being operatively positioned by the cam means of thesecond control means so as to actuate the stripping means into anengaging relation with the carton tubes so as to cause the strippingmeans to displace the carton tubes from the extractor fingersimmediately following the operation of the selectively operable means bythe cam means of the second control means in said other sense to causethe extractor fingers to release thE transferred carton tubes to thefeeder surface means, a sweeper mechanism including a sweeper platearranged in cooperative relation with the feeder surface means anddriven in synchronized relation with the actuation of the strippingmeans to displace the carton tubes from the extractor fingers, thesweeper plate being effective after the displacement of the carton tubesfrom the extractor fingers to move the tubes along the feeder surfacemeans clear of interference with the stripping means and under the forceof the driven sweeper plate for supplying the carton tubes to theautomatic tube filling line.
 9. The improvement defined by claim 6 inwhich the stepper mechanism comprises motor means, friction clutch meansincluding input means driven by the motor means and output means,actuating means arranged in driving relation with the transportreceptacle and operably connected to the output means, and thereleasable means includes a toothed portion carried by the output means,a pawl to engage a tooth of said toothed portion to effectively restrainthe output means from being driven by the motor means through thefriction clutch means, the pawl of the releasable means beingperiodically operable by the first control means to release the engagedtooth of said tooth portion carried by the output means so as to permitthe output means of the friction clutch means to be driven by the motormeans so as to cause the actuating means to be periodically operable toadvance by a step action the transport receptacle in the sense anddistance aforesaid.